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Ohio River Bridge Crossing Feasibility Study
Lawrence County, Ohio | Cabell County, West Virginia
STUDY PURPOSEThe purpose of the Ohio River Bridge Crossing Feasibility Study is to evaluate the need for a crossing between Ohio SR 7 (SR-7) and Big Ben Bowen Highway / Merritts Creek Connector (WV-193) and identify potential corridors that would enhance the transportation network in the Huntington metropolitan region, by improving safety, mobility, and providing increased system linkage and connectivity to population centers, as well as key local and regional destinations, consistent with state, regional, and local transportation planning initiatives. It is anticipated that a new crossing combined with completion of the SR-7 (Phase-II) by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), would:
� Improve cross-river mobility in the Huntington metropolitan area
� Strengthen the transportation network in the Tri-state region. Improved connectivity is needed to link existing facilities, population centers, and key destinations for work, school, or recreation; therefore, encouraging increased use of active transportation modes.
� Support the completion of the Huntington Outer belt linking Ohio, West Virginia, and key segments of Interstate 64 (I-64).
This study documents the engineering and environmental evaluation for potential corridors and refine feasible corridors recommended for further evaluation in Phase 2 that will meet the federal requirements for approval under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Executive Summary
Kentucky ■ Ohio ■ West VirginiaInterstate Planning Commission
KYOVA | 400 Third Avenue | P.O. Box 939 | Huntington, West Virginia 25712
CORRIDORS CONSIDERED FOR EVALUATION
Corridor 1: WV 2 (Ohio River Road)/WV 193 (Big Ben Highway) This corridor would provide the most direct connection between WV 193 and Ohio SR-7. The existing WV-2/WV-193 intersection will be upgraded to a diamond interchange with an overpass bridge to accommodate 4 travel lanes. Ohio Route 7 will also be upgraded to 4 lanes.
Corridor 2: WV 2 (Ohio River Road)/CR 11 (Big Seven Mile Road) Corridor 2 is located at the WV-2/CR-11 intersection and along Cox Landing Road, extends over the Ohio River, and then intersects with Ohio State Route 7 in Lawrence County, Ohio. The existing WV-2/CR-11 intersection will be upgraded to accommodate four travel lanes. Ohio State Route 7 will also be upgraded to four lanes.
Corridor 3: WV 2 (Ohio River Road)/CR 7 (Nine Mile Road) Corridor 3 is located approximately 0.3 miles south of WV CR 7 (Nine Mile Road) along Douthat Lane and extends over the Ohio River, intersecting OH Route 7 near Private Road 1286. This corridor features flyover ramps for northbound traffic on OH Route 7 due to available width restrictions adjacent to the Ohio River.
STUDY PROCESSOur study’s process began by determining the draft purpose and need for the project and then defining a range of alternatives that could meet the purpose and need. The draft purpose and need for this project are primarily to provide improved transportation mobility to support the projected transportation demand being generated by current and future economic and population growth. The project location map shows the corridor evaluation area and is presented in Figure 1-1.
Ohio River Bridge Crossing Feasibility Study | Executive Summary
Corr
idor
1Co
rrid
or 2
Corr
idor
3
Evaluation CriteriaEvaluation Criteria Corridor 1Corridor 1 Corridor 2Corridor 2 Corridor 3Corridor 3 No-BuildNo-Build
Purpose & Need
Enhance Safety / Mobility / Multimodal Meets Purpose & Need Meets Purpose & NeedLess Desired Community to Community access with east Huntington
No subparts of mobility would be met. Improving existing bridge not practical.
Access Connectivity Most Direct Access 1-mile longer to outer belt 2-miles longer to outer belt Restricted Access
Support Economic Development Most Desirable Less Desirable Less Desirable Do Not Support
Traffic Circulation and Congestion Relief Most Desirable Less Desirable Less Desirable Least Desirable
Engineering
Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Meets Criteria Increased Disruptions Increased Disruptions No Impact
Construction Risks Typical Risks Additional Excavation Additional Excavation No Impact
Public Support
Public Support Most Support Less Support Less Support Least Support
Environmental
Socioeconomics / Community / Natural / Physical Impacts
Community Cohesion Residential Isolation Residential Isolation Residential Isolation No Impact
Residential Relocation 87 Relocations 39 Relocations 99 Relocations No Impact
Business Relocation 7 Potential Relocations 2 Potential Relocations 3 Potential Relocations No Impact
Under-served Population Up to 37 percent Low-Income Up to 45% Low-Income Up to 45% Low-Income No Impact
Noise Potential Impact Potential Impact Potential Impact No Impact
Historic Resources 4 Potential Sites 1 Potential Site 1 Potential Site No Impact
Wetland Impacts No Impact 0.34 acres 0.17 acres No Impact
Stream Impacts 5,500 LF 3,759 LF 7,234 LF No Impact
Threatened and Endangered Species (T&E) Within range of federally-listed
Within range of federally and state listed
Within range of federally and state listed No Impact
Construction & Right-of-Way Costs (Ultimate four-lane section)
Construction Cost $138,500,000 $139,500,000 $158,800,000
Right-of-Way Cost $18,900,000 $14,000,000 $27,700,000
Total Cost $157,400,000 $153,500,000 $186,500,000
Color Code Index: Most desirable Less desirable Least desirable Not applicable
CORRIDOR EVALUATION MATRIXBelow is the table used to determine the best solution for the community. Green denotes the most desirable outcome, while red indicates the least desirable outcome. The team used various variables to determine which of these potential solutions would serve the local area the best.
Ohio River Bridge Crossing Feasibility Study | Executive SummaryOhio River Bridge Crossing Feasibility Study | Executive Summary
STAKEHOLDER & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENTPublic feedback was critical throughout the evaluation of the benefits and challenges of each option, as well as impacts related to the economic development, residents and businesses, the environment, and other key factors. A list of 371 contacts was compiled, including project sponsors, the consulting team, steering committee members, business and industry contacts and residents. Below is a summary of public responses to project’s survey questions.
SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONBased on the evaluation as summarized in the matrix , it is recommended that Alternative Corridor 3 be dropped from future consideration due to access, traffic circulation and connectivity, and stakeholders and public input. Alternative Corridor 1 and Alternative Corridor 2 are considered feasible and warrants further consideration in a subsequent NEPA study.
NEXT STEPSShould the recommendations from the Ohio River Bridge Crossing Feasibility Study advance, detailed public involvement, environmental studies, roadway alignments and bridge designs would occur. The advanced phase would complete National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documentation and detailed design plans.
PROJECT TIMELINE
Congestion
Access
Trave
l Delays
Business
Access
Outer Belt I
mprove
Traffic
Economic Development
Inadequate Road Netw
ork
Bridge Im
prove
Efficiency
Corridor L
ocations
Bridge Cro
ssing Locatio
ns
Bike & Ped Benefits
Quality of L
ife
Next Steps
Study’s Immporta
nce
http://www.kyovaipc.org/
Public Support
Feasibility Study Completed 2020
2-Years 3-Years2-Years 3-Years
NEPA Design Detail Design Property Acquisition Construction
Ohio River Bridge CrossingProject Lifecycle (if Funding is Available)
56% 58%47%
55%
84% 87%76%
90%73% 67%
74%88% 87%
52%
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